Welcome to the memorial page for
Elizabeth Jane Maguire Dvorscak
December 22, 1936 ~ June 27, 2017 (age 80) 80 Years OldShare Tribute:
Elizabeth "Betty" Dvorscak, 80, returned to the Lord on June 27th, 2017 surrounded by friends and her husband of 53 years, EJ Dvorscak. Born Elizabeth Jane Maguire on December 22, 1936 to William and Martha Maguire, she grew up in Falls Church, VA as the youngest of six children. She attended St. James Catholic School in Falls Church and received a full scholarship to Holy Trinity High School in Georgetown. She also received a full scholarship to Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross, Washington, D.C., where she graduated summa cum laude in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts.
Following graduation, she worked briefly for the National Geographic Society and then went on to a 35-year career at the World Bank, eventually becoming Chief of the Publications and Composition Unit in the Printing and Graphics Division.
Betty's true passion was for the Church. As a child, the Catholic faith was central to how she and her siblings were raised. Her family moved from Alexandria to Falls Church shortly after she was born so they would be closer to church, making it easier for her mother to get to daily Mass at Saint James. That passion for the Church led her to her husband many years later.
As a young woman, Betty became active in the Catholic Young Adult Club (CYAC) in the Arlington diocese. CYAC was organized to provide Christian fellowship and promote participation in parishes through religious, social, cultural, social service, and recreational activities for single Catholics between the ages of 18 to 35. One of those recreational activities was a Play, “Frontier Fantasy,” where the wild west meets Las Vegas and Betty Maguire, can-can girl and set designer, meets EJ Dvorscak, show director and producer. Their wedding on June 13, 1964 at Saint James Church was officiated by Betty's brother, a Jesuit priest. It was the beginning of a life-long ministry, devoted to each other and the needs of Saint Anthony of Padua parish.
Betty served the parish in a multitude of capacities. She was a gifted Lector, she helped start Gathering Groups, she was a tutor at Corpus Christi School, and she was the first Chair of the Pastoral Council. Her greatest gift to God and to the worship community at Saint Anthony, however, was her ability as an artist. She honored God by creating beauty in His church through the Altar Guild for many years and then on a full-time basis as Chair of Art and Environment following her retirement from the World Bank in 1995. Her tireless and devoted attention to parish needs, harmony, and beauty resulted in "extraordinary and unparalleled innovations" in the words of one pastor. Betty made altar cloths and designed beautiful banners to celebrate the liturgical seasons. She created a grotto on the altar for Easter Vigil - a child-size swimming pool painted gray, surrounded by greenery - for the 50+ catechumens that would be baptized during the Mass. Those of us who were fortunate enough to attend Saint Anthony during Betty's years of caring for the church will never forget the dramatic 100-foot long fabric swoops that so dramatically drew your eye to the altar during the most sacred seasons on the Church calendar. Each Saturday, year in and year out, Betty would be at the church with her crew refreshing the decorations, arranging flowers, tending to the statues, and making sure everything was clean and prepared for the Sunday liturgy. She had an eye for the way things should be – whether it was how a banner needed to be placed or the drape of the swoops leading to just the right spot. Her team would receive gentle direction as they hung from various ladders 30-feet in the air to decorate the church ("A little to the right." "A little more." "Hmmm. Go back." "Can you lower it a little?" "That's good."). She was always proud of her ever growing and changing team of volunteers who helped transform the church to a more inviting place of worship.
Betty's retirement in 1995 gave her great joy in two things. Creating a beautiful and glorious Church environment was her vocation and she delighted in being able to devote herself to it on a more full-time basis. Her new white, mustang convertible, however, was her avocation. She loved that car! It's not entirely certain that the license plate (1HAW - one heck of a woman!) was meant to refer to Betty and not to the car itself.
Betty loved cats, travel, puns, sharing meals with friends, wearing hats, and laughing. As a punster she was second to none. Her motto was, "the cornier, the better!" That way they would pop (get it?). Her hat collection went from the chic to the fabulous. She had hats for every occasion and on every occasion she looked fantastic. She made her Cursillo with the Women's 112th Weekend in 2001 and would lead the charge at mañanitas, laughing, clapping and singing in a great big hat. She never lost the pleasure in Christian fellowship that led her to EJ, joining in and often planning parish celebrations for feast days and to support the various parish ministries.
In 1998, Betty was recognized for her parish work as one of 12 Outstanding Women of the Diocese by the Arlington Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (ADCCW). And in June of 2001, EJ and Betty together received a Padua Award from the parishioners at Saint Anthony, recognizing their many years of outstanding services and dedication.
Betty is predeceased by her brothers Thomas Eugene Maguire (wife Joan), Brother Stephen Maguire O.C.S.O., John Maguire (wife Bertha); and Father Robert Maguire S.J. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, EJ Dvorscak; her sister, Sister Rosemary, I.H.M.; and Father Frank Hull S.S.J., her cousin.
A visitation will be held for family and friends on Friday, June 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m at Everly Community Funeral Care (www.everlycommunity.com), 6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. We will celebrate Betty's life at a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Betty’s memory to: Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Malvern, PA; or Saint Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart (Josephite priests); or the Trappist monastery, Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, VA.
Betty created beauty throughout her life and shared her talent freely. She cared for all of us, and served our community and our Church with deep faith and devotion. We will pray for the grace to carry her ministry forward and honor God by creating beauty.
Following graduation, she worked briefly for the National Geographic Society and then went on to a 35-year career at the World Bank, eventually becoming Chief of the Publications and Composition Unit in the Printing and Graphics Division.
Betty's true passion was for the Church. As a child, the Catholic faith was central to how she and her siblings were raised. Her family moved from Alexandria to Falls Church shortly after she was born so they would be closer to church, making it easier for her mother to get to daily Mass at Saint James. That passion for the Church led her to her husband many years later.
As a young woman, Betty became active in the Catholic Young Adult Club (CYAC) in the Arlington diocese. CYAC was organized to provide Christian fellowship and promote participation in parishes through religious, social, cultural, social service, and recreational activities for single Catholics between the ages of 18 to 35. One of those recreational activities was a Play, “Frontier Fantasy,” where the wild west meets Las Vegas and Betty Maguire, can-can girl and set designer, meets EJ Dvorscak, show director and producer. Their wedding on June 13, 1964 at Saint James Church was officiated by Betty's brother, a Jesuit priest. It was the beginning of a life-long ministry, devoted to each other and the needs of Saint Anthony of Padua parish.
Betty served the parish in a multitude of capacities. She was a gifted Lector, she helped start Gathering Groups, she was a tutor at Corpus Christi School, and she was the first Chair of the Pastoral Council. Her greatest gift to God and to the worship community at Saint Anthony, however, was her ability as an artist. She honored God by creating beauty in His church through the Altar Guild for many years and then on a full-time basis as Chair of Art and Environment following her retirement from the World Bank in 1995. Her tireless and devoted attention to parish needs, harmony, and beauty resulted in "extraordinary and unparalleled innovations" in the words of one pastor. Betty made altar cloths and designed beautiful banners to celebrate the liturgical seasons. She created a grotto on the altar for Easter Vigil - a child-size swimming pool painted gray, surrounded by greenery - for the 50+ catechumens that would be baptized during the Mass. Those of us who were fortunate enough to attend Saint Anthony during Betty's years of caring for the church will never forget the dramatic 100-foot long fabric swoops that so dramatically drew your eye to the altar during the most sacred seasons on the Church calendar. Each Saturday, year in and year out, Betty would be at the church with her crew refreshing the decorations, arranging flowers, tending to the statues, and making sure everything was clean and prepared for the Sunday liturgy. She had an eye for the way things should be – whether it was how a banner needed to be placed or the drape of the swoops leading to just the right spot. Her team would receive gentle direction as they hung from various ladders 30-feet in the air to decorate the church ("A little to the right." "A little more." "Hmmm. Go back." "Can you lower it a little?" "That's good."). She was always proud of her ever growing and changing team of volunteers who helped transform the church to a more inviting place of worship.
Betty's retirement in 1995 gave her great joy in two things. Creating a beautiful and glorious Church environment was her vocation and she delighted in being able to devote herself to it on a more full-time basis. Her new white, mustang convertible, however, was her avocation. She loved that car! It's not entirely certain that the license plate (1HAW - one heck of a woman!) was meant to refer to Betty and not to the car itself.
Betty loved cats, travel, puns, sharing meals with friends, wearing hats, and laughing. As a punster she was second to none. Her motto was, "the cornier, the better!" That way they would pop (get it?). Her hat collection went from the chic to the fabulous. She had hats for every occasion and on every occasion she looked fantastic. She made her Cursillo with the Women's 112th Weekend in 2001 and would lead the charge at mañanitas, laughing, clapping and singing in a great big hat. She never lost the pleasure in Christian fellowship that led her to EJ, joining in and often planning parish celebrations for feast days and to support the various parish ministries.
In 1998, Betty was recognized for her parish work as one of 12 Outstanding Women of the Diocese by the Arlington Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (ADCCW). And in June of 2001, EJ and Betty together received a Padua Award from the parishioners at Saint Anthony, recognizing their many years of outstanding services and dedication.
Betty is predeceased by her brothers Thomas Eugene Maguire (wife Joan), Brother Stephen Maguire O.C.S.O., John Maguire (wife Bertha); and Father Robert Maguire S.J. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, EJ Dvorscak; her sister, Sister Rosemary, I.H.M.; and Father Frank Hull S.S.J., her cousin.
A visitation will be held for family and friends on Friday, June 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m at Everly Community Funeral Care (www.everlycommunity.com), 6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. We will celebrate Betty's life at a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Betty’s memory to: Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Malvern, PA; or Saint Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart (Josephite priests); or the Trappist monastery, Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, VA.
Betty created beauty throughout her life and shared her talent freely. She cared for all of us, and served our community and our Church with deep faith and devotion. We will pray for the grace to carry her ministry forward and honor God by creating beauty.
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